HC Deb 25 March 1980 vol 981 cc1169-70
Q3. Mr. John Home Robertson

asked the Prime Minister if she will dismiss the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Sir Keith Joseph

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has no intention of doing so.

Mr. Home Robertson

Does not the Secretary of State think that the Secretary of State for Scotland should be dismissed on the ground that he has stolen £2½6 million from the children of Scotland? Does he realise that the Secretary of State for Scotland reduced the funding for education in Scotland in anticipation of the anti-rural bus law which the Government could not even persuade the other place to accept? Will he ensure that the Secretary of State either makes good the missing money for education or resigns?

Sir K. Joseph

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is perfectly able to defend himself against that totally unjustified and extravagantly put charge.

Mr. Henderson

Will my right hon. Friend recall that the Secretary of State for Scotland provided £10 per pupil more this year than last year? Will he assure the Prime Minister that the Secretary of State for Scotland has the fullest support and confidence of all Scottish Conservative Members?

Sir K. Joseph

I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will read that comment with appreciation.

Mr. Harry Ewing

If the Secretary of State for Scotland is able to defend himself, why does he always depend on United Kingdom Ministers to come to the Dispatch Box to make statements on his behalf? Since the election on 3 May, the Secretary of State for Scotland has never once made a statement on his own behalf. He has hidden behind either the Secretary of State for Industry or the Secretary of State for Education and Science. If he is surplus to requirements, why not sack him?

Sir K. Joseph

I am sure that that is another extravagant allegation.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that few things could be worse for Scotland than the prospect of an Assembly with economic powers, as envisaged in the resolution passed by the Scottish Labour Party at its recent conference? Is it not just as well that Scottish Labour Members will have no chance of persuading their English colleagues to agree to such a course?

Sir K. Joseph

I am sure that the contrast between the Labour Government's performance on Scotland and the irresponsible proposals put forward now will be clear to the people of Scotland.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Does the Secretary of State for Scotland not have a bit of a cheek in advising local authorities in Scotland to adopt a policy of good housekeeping? Is he aware that the very high interest rates now being charged mean that the Grampian regional council, for example, will have to find an extra £4 million simply to service its debts?

Sir K. Joseph

High interest rates are not welcomed by anybody anywhere, but they are part of the necessary process of abating inflation and the people of Scotland would be far worse off if inflation were not abated than they are with the temporary high level of interest rates.